Old Vic’s Sylvia cancels performance after cast member ‘collapses on stage’

Update: The September 5 performance of Sylvia has also been cancelled, with the Old Vic tweeting that the cancellation was due to an actor being ill.

Tonight’s performance of Sylvia at the Old Vic has been cancelled, after a lead cast member fell ill during last night’s show, forcing it to be abandoned midway through.

According to reports on social media, Genesis Lynea, who plays Sylvia Pankhurst, collapsed on stage minutes into the musical’s second act, during an open dress rehearsal on September 3.

This evening’s performance (September 4) will not go ahead as a result.

A statement from the theatre said: “The safety and wellbeing of our cast is of the utmost importance and therefore tonight’s performance of Sylvia has been cancelled. We apologise unreservedly to all our patrons affected by this and thank audiences for their understanding and support.”

The show was the first public performance of the new hip-hop musical, which is based on the life of Sylvia Pankhurst and her role in the suffragette movement. It also stars Beverley Knight as Emmeline Pankhurst.

Patrons of the cancelled performances will be able to exchange their tickets or arrange a refund.

We need your help…

When you subscribe to The Stage, you’re investing in our journalism. And our journalism is invested in supporting theatre and the performing arts.

The Stage is a family business, operated by the same family since we were founded in 1880. We do not receive government funding. We are not owned by a large corporation. Our editorial is not dictated by ticket sales.

We are fully independent, but this means we rely on revenue from readers to survive.

Help us continue to report on great work across the UK, champion new talent and keep up our investigative journalism that holds the powerful to account. Your subscription helps ensure our journalism can continue.